Two suggestions— both used by the master Chet Atkins.
1.) The Gretsch Chet Atkins model Country Gentlemen. A real one is quite expensive, but there are great replicas and more modern made Gretsch ones. Chet with Jerry Reed: all fingerstyle btw,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ni8KBhnebwE
2.) Alternatively for a powerful acoustic finger style guitar— a resophonic instrument (regular nut height “dobro” ).
Here’s Chet and Leo Kottke back many years, playing Sleep Walking:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WzsvN5HpYh8
Put me down as a strong “Do Not Recommend” for any recent Fender or Gibson model - overpriced and quality control is sadly lacking, especially with Gibson. PRS guitars are good, but also overpriced. Kiesel, Godin, and Ibanez make good instruments that are usually worth what they cost. Inflation has really hit the price of new instruments, so it’s worth the time to search eBay, Reverb, or even Guitar Denter’s used instrument page - I’ve had good luck with all of them.
I’m another Strat player. Strat to me is the most universal guitar out there for many sounds. But It sounds to me like a hollow body electric might be more to you liking.
Your acoustic must be a Martin HD-28, with factory custom installed martin pickup. Or D-41. Or a Taylor 414 Series.
Electric is a Strat or Gibson.
I make Benedetto style arch tops as a hobby a couple times a year. Fantastic instruments. Warm jazz sound but really large and difficult to make without a CNC machine.
Mark Knopfler, one of my favorite finger pickers, uses a Les Paul Gibson. You can’t go wrong with that. I stay away from Fender now just because Obama attacked Gibson to benefit Fender. https://harmonyvine.com/best-fingerstyle-guitarists/
And so many amazing finger pickers on cheap, yet good preamped Yamahas. If I had to pick a single guitar off the shelf for my desert island exile... A genuine 1960 Les Paul. Hands down. A nice one will probably be near $10k. Worth every Penny if you are a serious musician. It will never go down in value. Get a tube amp to go with it.
If you can do it and have basic carpentry skills make an electric for yourself. That way you can get the exact sound and action you want with different pickups from Dimarzio or Seymour. (The Dimarzios are amazing). Or heck, You can even wind you own. Stewmac dot com has everything you need.
Oh man... Don’t get me started on luthiery. One of my passions and can go on for decades... So PM me.
Telecaster, Open G
slide on in :-)
4 Teles
E A D G B E Standard tuning
D A D G A D
_ G D G B D Open G
D A D F# A D Open D
Gibson Les Paul... I just picked up a Hagstrom hollow body which I like a lot, plays great.
Tough one, But imho a Gibson sounds the best for blues, although a Telecaster is hard to beat also. Larry Carlton (Mr. E335) is one of my favorite players, rock, jazz blues.
Fender Strat from the custom shop and Gibson Les Paul Classic. Hard to go wrong with either one. So many guns and guitars I want, but so little money!
Like others have said, Fender Strat or Tele are great options
You might like one of those Gibson hollow bodies, the semi-acoustics, like an ES-335. Amplified but still has a bit of the feel of playing an acoustic and you don’t need to plug in just to practice.
That’s why they have guitar shops, so you can eventually discover what the “best” is for you and your style.
I have a positive grid spark amp. It gives me any tone and so much more.